Hooking Up (Shacking Up #2) by Helena Hunting:
Genre: Adult contemporary romance
Source: Purchased from Audible.com
My rating: 5 stars
As Helena Hunting's books tend to do, I was hooked within the first 10% of the book, so that I wanted to drive out of the way, take the long way to places, just to listen to a bit more before I had to get out of the car to go into work. This was such a hilarious story! The suitcase Amalie packed with her "toys" for their honeymoon, and when she accidentally tried to take it on carry-on instead of checking it? First off, I would be too embarrassed to even check my luggage with one of those in it, let alone the huge collection she was taking. And then there was Lexington, and how he saved the day that time, along with the other times he helped her out. Of course when she kind of threw herself at him the day of the wedding after cutting herself out of her wedding dress, that was hilarious. Her almost husband Armstrong was ridiculous, I couldn't even figure out why in the world he wouldn't give her up. Although we did get the clue on that later on in the story. So ridiculous how he expected her to be all pure and sweet because she was going to be his wife, instead of letting her enjoy sex the way he seemed to want to with all the women outside of his relationship. I totally loved Ami and Lex together. And it was great meeting the characters from the first book, which I'll now need to go back and read, since I do own it. The nice thing about Hunting's series is that you don't necessarily have to read them in order, although some things will be given away, like obviously that certain couples do end up together, if you read later books first. But since you know that is kind of a given in a romance, that's not that big of a deal in my book. Definitely another great series by this author! Although, as hot as the cover is, the guy needs some tattoos to be Lexington.
Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
Filled with hilariously scandalous situations and enough sexual chemistry to power an airplane from New York City to the South Pacific, Hooking Up is the next standalone, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from Helena Hunting, the New York Times bestselling author of the Pucked series and Shacking Up.
Amalie Whitfield is the picture of a blushing bride during her wedding reception–but for all the wrong reasons. Instead of proclaiming his undying love, her husband can be heard, by Amalie and their guests, getting off with someone else. She has every reason to freak out, and in a moment of insanity, she throws herself at the first hot-blooded male she sees. But he’s not interested in becoming her revenge screw.
Mortified and desperate to escape the post-wedding drama, Amalie decides to go on her honeymoon alone, only to find the man who rejected her also heading to the same tiny island for work. But this time he isn’t holding back. She should know better than to sleep with someone she knows, but she can’t seem to resist him.
They might agree that what happens on the island should stay on the island, but neither one can deny that their attraction is more than just physical.
Come As You Are by Lauren Blakely:
Genre: Adult contemporary romance
Source: Purchased from Audible.com
My rating: 5 stars
This one took a bit for me to get into. And that's saying a lot, because it was narrated by two of my favorites, Sebastian York and Andi Arndt. But once the story picked up, I really got into it and as you can tell from my rating, I loved it. This had the whole Cinderella leaving her shoe behind at midnight, but it wasn't her shoe this time. I did really like though, the way the author had the two meet up after they found out who the other was. I like that he didn't automatically assume she'd played him to get her story. I like that honestly they were realistic about how it had all happened, no one accusing the other unrealistically. I like that what so often becomes an insurmountable obstacle for the two doesn't do that, because they are honest with each other, instead of keeping things to themselves, hoping not to have to share them in order not to hurt them, or whatever dumb reasons characters usually keep for not telling something. Like the last problem, the mom, I like that it wasn't automatically assumed the other one had been lying and actually sent her for money. I like that he knew her well enough to know the mother was acting on her own greediness.
There were so many other good things, the grammar jokes were hilarious. And all the things in NYC that I now want to go back and try to see, like the abandoned subway stations for one! While all the sex was steamy, one scene I listed to on my way to work in the morning, and thought maybe I should have listened to the night before when I was in bed, because yeah...definitely had to fan myself before going into work.
The big surprise with this one was that there was an extra novella audio added at the end of the one I'd purchased, so that will be the next review.
Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
I couldn’t have scripted a more perfect night.
For one fantastic evening, at a masquerade party in the heart of Manhattan, I’m not the millionaire everyone wants a piece of. Fine—multimillionaire. But who’s counting all those commas? Not me, and not the most intriguing woman I've ever met, who happens to like dancing, witty banter, and hot, passionate up-against-the-wall sex as much as I do.
There's no need for names or business cards. And that’s why I’m eager to get to know her more, since my mystery woman seems to like me for me, rather than for my huge…bank account.
Everything’s coming up aces. Until the next day when things get a little complicated. (Newsflash — a lot complicated.)
***
He's charming, brilliant, an incredible lover, and right now I want to stab fate in the eyeballs.
I've had one goal I've been working toward, and lo and behold, my mystery man is the very person who stands between me and my dream job. A job I desperately need since my hard-knock life has nothing in common with his star-kissed one.
But it’s time to put that fairytale night behind me, and focus on learning what makes him tick. Too bad it turns out his quirks are my quirks, and his love affair with New York matches mine.
And as we spend our days together, I discover something else that feels like a cruel twist of fate — I’m falling for this naughty prince charming, and that’s not an ending I can write to our story.
Most Irresistible Guy (Most Valuable Playboy #0.5) by Lauren Blakely:
Genre: Adult contemporary romance
Source: Purchased from Audible.com
My rating: 5 stars
This is a very mini-review. It was a novella, but an awesome prequel to a series I now need to go on and read. I loved getting Violet's take on her crush on Cooper, and how she'd just given up, knowing he probably wasn't interested, even though at times he might be a bit more flirty than seemed just a friendly thing. The way the ending went though, leading right up to where book one will start? Perfect way to get me hooked to read that book!
Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
When he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close at my brother’s wedding, my heart beat faster. When we danced into the night, my mind raced far ahead, entertaining all the possibilities I’d longed for. And later, when Cooper told me he’d won the starting quarterback job before he shared the news with anyone else, I started to believe we could be more.
But I didn’t want to lose him as a friend, so I chose to focus on him solely as my buddy. That worked well enough for a while.
Until that night, in front of everyone, when he shocked my world to its core.
Most Irresistible Guy is a prequel novella to Most Valuable Playboy!
#Selfie (Hashtag Series #4) by Cambria Hebert:
Genre: New Adult contemporary romance
Source: Digital Download from Public Library
My rating: 5 stars
Okay, other than the male narrator's voice, I pretty much loved this book, as usual with this author. I had always adored Braeden as Rimmel's BBFL - Big Brother For Life. And then of course gotta love Ivy as Rimmel's roommate. I think I loved that Ivy ended up with a puppy, an adorable chihuahua puppy, and I had to go look up videos of chihuahua puppies on YouTube to see what they looked like walking. I'm very familiar with dachshund puppies, so wanted to see the difference. And of course, it was just as adorable as the book made it sound! While I'd normally be offended by someone calling the little dog, Prada, a rat like Braeden does, as I've had people in my life do that, you get used to it I guess. This book had so many adorably cute moments like that. And then sexy moments between Braeden and Ivy. Funny, snarky moments when the two of them would be arguing, and then some really emotional times, like Ivy's car accident, and also the Buzz Boss's dirty tricks in this one. We find out some things about the Buzz Boss in this book that make it look as if there was more going on than what we thought in how Ivy betrayed Rimmel unknowingly with Zach. I wonder if there is more background story between the Buzz Boss and Zach in the past that we might find out in the next book? That whole story line really kept my attention and had me at the edge of my seat guessing who it could be and why they were doing what they did. Even though Braeden did do the stupid thing of calling Ivy the name the others were implying, I knew that was a stupid boy thing. He figured out where he'd gone wrong, and figured out he needed a big act to get her back. And I liked how all that went. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, although I think he is wrong to keep the pictures he saw from Ivy, she really should know what happened, it's only fair, and would ease some of her guilt. Oh yeah, I definitely liked how the title totally played into the story, and how there was the parallel between the selfies that were used to both shame Ivy, and also used by Braeden to remember her and the good night they'd had.
Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
It’s all about the #Selfie.
She was the one girl I never wanted.
Until I had her.
One night.
One mistake.
Something we both wanted to forget.
I got rid of the proof. The one piece of evidence that could remind us both.
At least, I thought I did.
When it shows up on the school Buzzfeed, rumors fly. Friendships are tested and the feels get real.
I don’t do relationships. I don’t open my heart.
Especially for a girl everyone knows I hate.
What happens during spring break, stays in spring break.
Until it follows you home.
